"Virtually Christmas" is the seventy-sixth episode of Big City Greens.
Synopsis[]
When Cricket gets snowed in at the Remingtons' on Christmas Eve, he attempts to recreate his family's Christmas Eve traditions in a virtual reality video game but must hide the game's true nature from them.
Plot[]
It is Christmas time once again in Big City as the Greens prepare their annual traditions, but Cricket, who is bored of them, decides to go over to Remy's for Christmas Eve to check out his new VR video game Outpost Infinity. Bill wants him to stay, but Cricket convinces him to let him go, promising to be back in the evening. Upon arriving, Cricket and Remy immediately start playing the game, only to discover that they have been snowed in. Cricket calls his family to tell them the bad news, but Remy reveals that for Christmas, he got him a VR system so that he can play it. They instruct the Greens to open it and start playing so that they can be together and resume their traditions.
Within Outpost Infinity, the Greens enjoy the game except Bill who is confused by the various options. Cricket and Remy hide the fact that besides the building and creating mechanics of the game, it is also a monster fighting game, so that the family can continue their traditions in peace. Bill starts to enjoy his time when he starts playing hide the fruitcake, Nancy and Gramma Alice continue to mess with each other, while Tilly befriends Mr. Extras, an NPC who does nothing but sell paid DLC. Remy fights off monsters while Cricket continues to spend time with his family. Just as he starts to regain his spirit, more monsters suddenly show up and Cricket is forced to reveal what the game is actually about.
Bill is upset over Cricket lying to them about the actual theme of the game and that Cricket actually didn't want to do these traditions, thus he ran off. He nearly gives up until Cricket saves him in the nick of time. Cricket apologizes to his family, realizing that it was selfish of him to bail on his family. He also admits that he was wrong about their traditions and has started to appreciate them because they wouldn't be the same without family. He coerces the family into helping with fighting off the hordes of monsters and prevent them from destroying their house. Tilly calls upon Mr. Extras and Remy purchases a giant bazooka. After Cricket accidentally wastes it, they wait to recharge it and Bill finally blasts the lead monster. Unfortunately, it falls and crushes their house. Bill suggests that this be their new family tradition, but Cricket is uncomfortable about and takes off his headset with the intent to return home.
Cricket steals the Remmingtons' Santa sleigh display and rides through Big City in the snow, narrowly avoiding obstacles. He finally makes it home and convinces the family to remove their VR headsets, pleasing them to see that he arrived in time to continue their traditions. They answer the door to discover that the Remingtons and Vasquez arrives looking for Cricket after discovering that he had left their home. The Greens offer the Remingtons the chance to spend Christmas Eve with them, as they do not have any Christmas traditions of their own, and Vasquez happily accepts on their part. Both families proceed to sing a Christmas song together.
Cast[]
- Chris Houghton as Cricket Green
- Marieve Herington as Tilly Green
- Bob Joles as Bill Green
- Artemis Pebdani as Gramma Alice
- Wendi McLendon-Covey as Nancy Green
- Zeno Robinson as Remy Remington
- Danny Trejo as Vasquez
- Colton Dunn as Russell Remington
- Lorraine Toussaint as Rashida Remington
- Luke Lowe as Benny
- Alfonso Ribeiro as Mr. Extras
- Shane Houghton as Glass Workman
Trivia[]
- This episode serves as an Extended Length special.
- This episode was initially developed for a 2021 release date sometime after "Squashed!", but it ran into technical problems with the 3D, hence why the episode still takes place in Big City.[1]
- Coincidentally, this episode aired one day before the premiere of The Simpsons episode "Game Done Changed", another episode that also combines 2D with CGI animation.
- This is the third episode to use CGI animation, after "Level Up", "Dirt Jar", and "Farmer Remy".
- The virtual reality game is entirely a reference to Roblox, Minecraft, No Man's Sky, and Terraria.
- The game's main objective is about surviving a wave of mobs in an infinite world, which fits the description of the three aforementioned games.
- Mr. Extras' entire character is a reference to the prevalence of in-game purchases in games like 2017's Star Wars Battlefront II and the FIFA series of video games, where these in-game purchases were most controversial.
- For the first time, the title appears in the intro rather than an object or item.
- Gloria Sato is absent from the episode, even though technically she is still living with the Greens. Shane Houghton revealed that she was visiting her parents back in Bedford Park.[2]
- Moral:
- The Christmas spirit is better with family; bailing from a tradition won't do you any good.
- Never underestimate a character based on their demeanor.
- Sometimes, some traditions can't be repeated when push comes to shove and it's better to them in person.
International Premieres[]
- December 4, 2022 (Canada)
- May 17, 2023 (Portugal; premiere on Disney+)
- December 2, 2023 (Japan)
- December 9, 2023 (Germany)
Gallery[]
References[]
External links[]
